Harold Brubaker, Philadelphia Inquirer, January 10, 2008 A Pennsylvania
nurse's union with 5,100 members, mostly in the Philadelphia area, said
it is affiliating with a powerful and deep-pocketed national
counterpart. The move puts the financially struggling Temple University
Health System and other hospitals in the region on notice the nurses'
union will take a firmer stance against staffing cutbacks. The
Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses & Allied Professionals,
independent since its founding in 2000, plans to announce details this
afternoon of the alliance, which will encompass 80,000 members. ... Pennsylvania

Philadelphia Business Journal, January 10, 2008 The Pennsylvania
Association of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals said Thursday it
is affiliating with the California Nurses Association/National Nurses
Organizing Committee. Based in Conshohocken, Pa., PASNAP represents
5,100 registered nurses and other allied health professionals across
the state. In the Philadelphia area the union represents workers at
Temple University and Northeastern hospitals in Philadelphia,
Crozer-Chester Medical Center in Upland, Mercy Suburban Hospital in
East Norriton, Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital in Darby, Lower Bucks Hospital
in Bristol, and Brooke Glen Behavioral Hospital in Fort Washington. ...
Philadelphia

National Nurses Organizing Committee, January 10, 2008 Oakland - The
Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals
(PASNAP) is joining the nation's largest union of registered nurses,
the California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee
(AFL-CIO), leaders of both organizations announced today. With the
affiliation, CNA/NNOC will now represent more than 80,000 RNs in all 50
states. PASNAP has some 5,100 members. CNA/NNOC and PASNAP have been
two of the fastest growing unions in the US with a stellar growth
record. ... Pennsylvania

National telephone conference Thursday. California Nurses Association,
January 9, 2008 Pennsylvania’s leading organization of registered
nurses and other health professionals, the Pennsylvania Association of
Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals (PASNAP) will announce Thursday
that it is affiliating with the nation’s premiere union and movement of
registered nurses, the California Nurses Association/National Nurses
Organizing Committee. The affiliation will unite two of the fastest
growing healthcare unions in the nation. ... Pennsylvania

Patti Mengers, Delaware County Times, November 20, 2007 Upland - About
150 nurses and other hospital staffers picketed Crozer-Chester Medical
Center Monday to protest the impending elimination of outpatient
cardiac and inpatient rehabilitation services and the closing of one of
two psychiatric units at the health care facility. “Keep the Care at
Crozer,” “Patients Before Profits” and “Open Heart? No rehab here” were
among the messages on placards carried by members of the Crozer-Chester
Nurses Association. Demonstrators said they feel Crozer officials are
making the services inaccessible to the people of Chester and
neighboring communities. ... Nurses

Philadelphia Business Journal, November 12, 2007 The Pennsylvania
Nurses Union PASNAP said Monday that 260 registered nurses at Jeanes
Hospital voted overwhelmingly Friday night to approve their first union
contract with the Temple University Health System, the owner of Jeanes
since 2000. The nurses voted to form their union in late May and began
negotiations in late June. Last week, the nurses voted to send a strike
notice to Temple if a satisfactory agreement was not reached in a
timely manner. ... Jeanes

Mari A. Schaefer, Philadelphia Inquirer, November 11, 2007 Nurses with
the Temple University Health System voted Friday night to approve their
first union contract and avert a possible strike. Last week, 260 Jeanes
Hospital registered nurses, who in May agreed to form the union, voted
to send a strike notice to Temple if they could not reach a timely
contract agreement. "Nurses form unions to win a voice on the job and
to be better positioned to advocate for their patients," said Bill
Cruice, executive director for the Pennsylvania Association of Staff
Nurses and Allied Professionals. ... Temple

Nichole Dobo, Scranton Times-Tribune, August 15, 2007 Community Medical
Center agreed Tuesday not to challenge a vote to unionize nurses, the
last hurdle after two previous failed attempts to organize. The union
should be certified soon by the National Labor Relations Board, as the
deadline for objecting to the vote will pass today. Nearly two-thirds
of nurses agreed to union membership in a July vote that was counted
last week. ... CMC

Nichole Dobo, Scranton Times-Tribune, August 9, 2007 Nearly two-thirds
of the Community Medical Center nurses who cast ballots in a recent
union election voted in favor of the union, a Wednesday count showed.
Unless an objection is filed, the union will be certified Aug. 15 by
the National Labor Relations Board to represent about 400 nurses at
CMC, said John D. Breese, assistant regional director of the NLRB’s
Philadelphia office. ... The votes were: 209 in favor and 117 against.
The 40 disputed votes were not counted, since they were not enough to
change the outcome. Nurses at CMC will be represented by the
Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals,
which represents more then 5,000 health professionals, including

Wilkes-Barre Times Leader, August 9, 2007 Community Medical Center
nurses have voted 209-117 in favor of union representation, officials
said. The National Labor Relations Board will certify a union to
represent the nurses on Aug. 15 unless medical center officials file an
objection, John D. Breese, NLRB assistant regional director, said
Wednesday. CMC officials said a decision had not been made on whether
to challenge the vote. John Nilsson, interim chief executive officer
and president, said in a statement the medical center would work with
employees to provide quality patient care "and do the things that make
CMC the employer of choice in the community." ... Scranton

Nichole Dobo, Scranton Times-Tribune, August 7, 2007 Ballots for a
Community Medical Center nurses union vote will be counted Wednesday in
Philadelphia, ending nearly a month of waiting. The vote count was
postponed because CMC challenged the right of some nurses to join the
union, calling them supervisors not eligible for union representation.
A Friday decision from the National Labor Relations Board allowed the
more than 400 votes to be counted. Votes will be tallied at the NLRB’s
Philadelphia office. Results are expected by Wednesday afternoon. ... Voting

Robert Swift, Citizens Voice, June 25, 2007 Harrisburg - A battle over unionizing nurses at a Scranton hospital shifted to the statehouse Friday. Democratic lawmakers from Northeastern Pennsylvania called on Community Medical Center not to spend public dollars on attorneys and consultants hired to block or undermine a union representation vote next month. CMC interim CEO John Nilsson responded that the lawmakers could be more effective if they solved the hospital’s Medicaid reimbursement problems. The issue arose after a National Labor Relations Board decision Wednesday paved the way for about 450 CMC nurses to vote next month on unionization. The NLRB ruled that 73 of 92 nurses in supervisory positions are eligible to vote during the week of July 16 on union representation. ... Battle

Daily American Editorial, May 31, 2007 Nurses at Somerset Hospital held informational pickets on Tuesday and Wednesday. The nurses are members of the Somerset Professional Nurses Association/Pennsylvania State Education Association/American Federation of Teachers. They have been in contract talks with the hospital since early March. The UniServ representative said the main issue is the level of staffing, with nurses not able to take breaks or have lunch because they must care for so many patients. Depending on hospital census, the ratio is 10 to 14 patients per nurse. Under the contract, it should only be five to six patients per nurse. Nurses also said the proposed increase in their health care costs will cancel out any pay raise they receive. ... Cost

WJACTV.com, May 30, 2007 Somerset - Nurses at Somerset Hospital held an informational picket on Tuesday to tell residents about the shortage of nurses and the problems that creates for hospitals. The nurses are currently working without a contract. One of their main issues is staffing. The latest statistic from the US Department of Health and Human Services indicates Pennsylvania ranks 24th nationally as having the number of registered nurses based on population. The nurses told Channel 6 News they are scheduled to work 40 hours in a week and they'll be required to work another 16-24 hour shift. ... Somerset

Vicki Rock, Daily American, May 30, 2007 Health care costs and staffing levels have become sticking points in ongoing nursing contract negotiations at Somerset Hospital. The main obstacle to reaching a new agreement is the union's concerns over staffing, said Dr. Lonnie Luna, UniServ representative. About 25 nurses at Somerset Hospital held an informational picket on Tuesday as contract talks continue. Depending on hospital census, the current ratio is 10 to 14 patients per nurse. Under the contract guidelines, that should only be five to six patients per nurse, he said. That is what the union is requesting. ... Nurses